My Readings: Safiyya and London

Firstly I have been submersing myself into the entire experience that is this class and I am enjoying myself immensely. The book that we are reading for class, “Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery” by Bahaa’ Taher has captured me completely, with its vivid details and explosive characters that make me both want to laugh and cry. I am only into the third chapter and already so much has happened, we were introduced to characters and settings and culture differences and, for me, a heart-wrenching scene of death and the destruction of one man’s psyche. The first chapter, The Miqaddis Bishai, introduces us to the narrator and main character, a boy of varying age throughout the tale. We also meet his immediate family and realize that everyone in the small village is quite close in relation. A bit about the culture and current celebration is learned as well as the setting being described. In the second chapter, Aunt Safiyya, you are thrown into the situation that brought us to the present day. The complete story of Safiyya’s youth and marriage and subsequent withdrawal from her beauty and youth is completely laid out for the reader. I do not want to go into more detail because it really needs to be read to be fully experienced.
Secondly, I have been reading another book for class entitled “Only in London” by Hanan Al-Shaykh. This is the intertwining story of four very different individuals who all met on a plane ride to London and who subsequently have been running into each other throughout the beginning of the story. The main setting for the story thus far has been Edgware Road, which has a distinct Arab taste and is referred to by Londoners as “Little Cairo” and “Little Beirut”. Lamis, Amira, Samir and Nicholas are the main character and in each part of the chapter they all become the main focus and the reader witnesses their interactions with the other principle characters from their point of view. This book is intrinsically a very beautiful and moving story so far and I am definitely excited to continue reading.